Protesters say Walmart should pay workers more

Thursday

Jul 25, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 25, 2013 at 5:41 AM

A group of protesters descended on Walmart in Raynham on Wednesday night to demand a “living wage” for all workers in Massachusetts.

The event, organized by Massachusetts Jobs With Justice, called for Walmart and other employers in the state to start paying more than the minimum wage. The rally participants also called for them to provide workers with adequate sick leave.

Marc Larocque

A group of protesters descended on Walmart in Raynham on Wednesday night to demand a “living wage” for all workers in Massachusetts.

The event, organized by Massachusetts Jobs With Justice, called for Walmart and other employers in the state to start paying more than the minimum wage. The rally participants also called for them to provide workers with adequate sick leave.

“Walmart has been on our radar at Jobs With Justice for a very long time,” said Gillian Mason, an organizer for the group. “The reason we are all here today is to raise up Massachusetts. That means raising the minimum wage so people can feed their families. It also means passing earned sick time so people can take the time and care for their families when they need it.”

Mason said that the Jobs With Justice group is pushing for the minimum wage to be raised to at least $11, to provider workers and their families a better standard of living. Mason said that too many workers are struggling to get by on minimum wage. She also said Jobs With Justice estimates that there are about a million people in Massachusetts who are now at risk of losing their jobs if they were to take time off to take care of their family or themselves, and her organization is advocating to mandate earned sick time.

Mason said Walmart was not the only company to pay low wages and deny sick leave. But she said Walmart, as one of the nation’s largest employers, should set a standard for paying its workers more.

“We are here because Walmart is just an example of one of many corporations that are paying people a wage that is not livable,” said Mason, who added that the group was rallying support among shoppers, many of whom also get paid the minimum. “We know there are people inside this building right now ... and we know those people need a living wage. And that’s why we are here in front of Walmart.”

The group said that with $15.7 billion yearly profits, Walmart could afford to provide sick pay for workers and higher wages.

Managers from the Raynham Walmart were quick to approach the group, about five minutes into the rally, asking asked them all to leave. A manager told the group that it was corporate policy not to allow uninvited demonstrations.

The group, of about 20 people mostly from the Taunton area, then took their rally to the side of the road off Walmart property.

Responding to the claims of Jobs with Justice, Walmart spokesman William Wertz was quick to fire back, saying the superstore chain actually provides a career path allowing sales associates to get management jobs, with higher pay and more responsibility.

“Walmart has a record of moving hourly associates into better and better jobs and into management,” Wertz said. “A job at Walmart — unlike some others — offers an opportunity for a real career.”

Wertz defended his company, saying that the average hourly wage for a regular, full-time associate at Walmart is $13.86. (The Massachusetts minimum wage is currently $8 per hour).

Wertz said Walmart promoted 160,000 people last year to positions of more responsibility and higher pay.

Wertz added that 75 percent of store management team members around the country started as hourly associates, and that they now have annual salaries between $50,000 and $170,000.

Gabriela Corbera, of Taunton, came to the rally as an intern for Massachusetts Jobs With Justice. Corbera said it’s only right to raise the minimum wage, but that Walmart doesn’t have to wait for a change in the law to increase the pay of its workers.

“Workers need to be paid a fair amount of money,” Corbera said. “Walmart is mostly certainly one of the largest corporations in Massachusetts. It should raise its minimum wages to help its workers to be able to afford living expenses.”

Dorothy Latour, of Taunton, said that she is a Walmart shopper, but she attended the rally because she feels bad that the workers are not making enough money.

“I shop at Walmart and I want to feel like the workers serving me are getting paid right,” Latour said. “They have to have enough to pay rent, insurance and other bills. The disparity between the workers and the executives is too much.”